Manchester United are the media’s punch bags right now, after a terrible season.
A recent BBC News ticker even included the headline ‘Manchester United are rubbish’, prompting an embarrassing apology from the BBC, who claimed a trainee had uploaded the message in error.
Usually United fans would be furious at such a disrespectful comment, but the sad truth is, United have been rubbish this season.
It’s open season on United, and it is deserved after a wretched season in which the team scraped sixth place. It’s up to the team to change people’s opinions, under new manager Erik ten Hag.
Six United players named in a worst Premier League XI of the season
ESPN commentator Ian Darke named his worst Premier League XI of the season this week, and it contained six Manchester United players.
Considering that the selection process includes the entire Premier League, with the likes of Norwich and Watford players among those eligible for selection, it seems totally ridiculous that Manchester United players could make up more than half the available spots.
Much of this is to do with expectations. United’s players have under-performed and under-delivered based on the hopes coming into the season, and there is a much more negative view of their contributions.
And then, United’s name makes an impact, so Darke knows exactly what he is doing by picking six Red Devils players, it gets people talking…
Who deserves to be in and who is harshly selected?
It seems tremendously unfair to pick Raphael Varane in this XI. The Frenchman may not have had a dream first season at Old Trafford, but no way has he been among the worst in the league. He has also missed games with injury.
Bruno Fernandes may also have taken a step backwards this season, but he still managed to create more goalscoring chances than any Premier League player.
Has he been perfect? No. But he certainly is not deserving of his place among what is supposed to be the worst XI in the league.
You can make cases for Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who have all taken huge steps backwards over the 2021/22 season. All three are fighting for their futures.
Paul Pogba managed to provide nine Premier League assists, even if four came in one game. He only made 20 appearances, with 16 of them starts, missing the rest through injuries or suspension.
There are not many United fans upset he is finally leaving, after failing to reach his potential, but again, a worst XI of the season selection seems overly harsh.
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